Dead River Podcast
Dead River is a brand-new podcast series hosted by Liz Bonnin. It tells the story of the Mariana dam disaster – the worst environmental disaster in Brazil’s history.
About The Dead River Podcast
On November 5 2015, the Mariana dam in Brazil collapsed.
19 people died, hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes, livelihoods and access to the one thing we all need to survive – clean water.
Liz Bonnin podcast
The podcast series is hosted by Liz Bonnin. Liz is a science and natural world expert and broadcaster. With Portuguese roots and a genuine love for the natural world, Liz will take you through the indepth story of the Mariana dam disaster.
Dead River is produced by Pulama Kaufman and explains the history of mining in Brazil, the day that disaster struck, through to today – eight years on — where the victims are still fighting for justice and are now embroiled in a legal battle against the owners of the dam, BHP and Vale.
About The Dead River Podcast
On November 5 2015, the Mariana dam in Brazil collapsed.
19 people died, hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes, livelihoods and access to the one thing we all need to survive – clean water.
Dead River is produced by Pulama Kaufman and explains the history of mining in Brazil, the day that disaster struck, through to today – eight years on — where the victims are still fighting for justice and are now embroiled in a legal battle against the owners of the dam, BHP and Vale.
The podcast series is hosted by Liz Bonnin. Liz is a science and natural world expert and broadcaster. With Portuguese roots and a genuine love for the natural world, Liz will take you through the indepth story of the Mariana dam disaster.
Dead River Podcast Trailer
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Episodes
Episode 6: A Silent War
In the powerful conclusion of Dead River, the echoes of centuries past reverberate in the struggle of indigenous people against government and multinational giants.
In Episode 6 Liz Bonnin delves into the history of mining’s arrival in Brazil and the enduring fight for land rights, autonomy, and sovereignty.
Can mining coexist harmoniously with indigenous communities? Are mining companies irredeemable villains, or can they become forces for good? Will this tale find a fairytale ending, and how much longer will the people of Brazil be forced to wait for justice?
Episode 5: Dead River
In 2015, after the Mariana dam collapse, biologist Luciano Magalís declared that the River Doce was dead. In episode 5, Liz Bonnin explores the effect that millions of tons of toxic waste has on the River Doce and the residents who rely on it.
We hear from people who were forced to leave their homes because they lost their jobs, people whose loved ones they believe died from the effects of the contaminated water, and indigenous leaders who have watched their community suffer unbearable grief and physical illness for years following the collapse.
What have the companies involved done to mitigate these risks, and how, if ever, can a river be brought back to life? brought in English courts.
Episode 4: The case of 700,000
BHP and Vale are two of the biggest mining companies in the world, with net worths rivaling nations. For years, setbacks in the Brazilian justice system have created a struggle to hold these large companies accountable for the destruction the collapse of the dam they own caused. But in 2019, Pogust Goodhead, a London-based global law firm, decided to challenge the status quo of what it means to hold multinational corporations to account.
This is the rollercoaster story of how a small law firm fronted by one man grew to represent 700,000 victims in the largest-ever class action lawsuit brought in English courts.
Episode 3: Patterns of Abuse
Who is responsible for the collapse of the Mariana dam that killed 19 people, left hundreds of people homeless and hundreds of thousands of people without access to drinking water? A first-hand account from a resident of Papua New Guinea reminds us that this is not the first time the mining company has been involved in a mining disaster that affected thousands of people. In Brazil, Liz Bonin explores the disaster’s impact on victims for the months and years following 5th November 2015.
Bonus Episode: Pamela's Story
This is an extended cut of the powerful interview Brazilian journalist Cristina Serra recorded with Pamela Isabel. Pamela is Emanuelle’s mother, the 5-year-old girl who was torn from her father’s arms and killed by the toxic mud when the Fundao dam collapsed.
Episode 2: The Silence of Sirens
A haunting revelation from an official report sets the stage for an unexpected and devastating toxic mud spill. How did a morning that started so calm and ordinary end in extraordinary catastrophe?
Following the harrowing journey of the mud through various towns, episode 2 hears first-hand accounts from victims, and the story of how the silenced sirens add a chilling layer to this environmental tragedy.
Episode 1: Low Risk
For hundreds of years, humans lived in harmony with the beautiful landscape alongside the River Doce in Brazil. It was a paradise – a place where plants grew in abundance and animals of vibrant colors lived happily. But once explorers arrived – a new chapter began. In this episode, Liz Bonnin recounts the history of mining in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, we are introduced to the key players of BHP, Vale and Samarco and we meet the people whose roots plunge deep into the earth of this place. What was life like before the 5th of November, 2015… and why did it all change?
Contact Us
Whether you’re a client, journalist, NGO, political operative, or legal professional, we’re always happy to talk. If you require any help or advice, please get in touch with the Pogust Goodhead team.
If you are a client in the Mariana dam disaster claim, please click here to be redirected to the client portal.
